regional strategic action plan to minimize the...

REGIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN TO MINIMIZE THE TRANSFER OF HARMFUL AQUATIC ORGANISMS AND PATHOGENS IN SHIPS’ BALLAST WATER AND SEDIMENTS WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION

CEP Technical Report: 69 2012

Regional Strategic Action Plan to Minimize the Transfer

of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens in Ships’ Ballast Water and

Sediments Wider Caribbean Region

23 May 2012

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Table of Contents Page Glossary iii 1 Introduction and Background 1 2 Objectives of a Regional Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2 3 Description of the Region 3 4 Wider Caribbean Region Strategic Priorities 4 5 Action Plan 11 6 Expected Outcomes 17 Appendix Work Plan and Implementation Timetable 19 Annexes I Terms of Reference for the Regional Task Force 23 II Harmonized Voluntary Arrangements for Ballast Water Management in The

Wider Caribbean Region 27

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GLOSSARY

BWM Ballast Water Management

CAR/RCU Caribbean Regional Co-ordinating Unit

CME Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement

EIMS Environmental Information Management System

GBP GEF/UNDP/IMO GloBallast Partnerships

GEF Global Environment Facility

HAOP Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens

IAS Invasive Alien Species

IMO International Maritime Organization

LPIA Legal, Policy and Institutional Aspects

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

NTF National Task Force

PBBS Port Biological Baseline Survey

RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe Regional Activity Centre / Regional Marine Pollution

Emergency, Information and Training Centre for the Wider

Caribbean Region

RTF-WCR Regional Task Force on Control and Management of Ships’

Ballast Water and Sediments in the Wider Caribbean Region

SAP Strategic Action Plan

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme

WCR Wider Caribbean Region

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Nowadays, shipping carries more than 90% of the world’s goods and commodities and is

essential to the global economy. The Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), due to its strategic

location, is an active region of the world economy and a major hub for commercial shipping.

The Panama Canal alone accommodates more than 14,000 ships a year, and this number is

expected to double in the next 10 to 15 years with the current expansion of the Canal.

Ships need to carry ballast to maintain their balance, stability and ensure structural integrity

(basically, to operate securely and safely), especially while unladen or partially laden. As

shipping efficiency improved and technology became available, solid ballast was gradually

replaced by ballast water to ensure these functions. It is now estimated that about 3 to 5

billion tonnes of ballast water are transferred internationally every year. Although this change

has been facilitating international trade, it has also assisted in ‘jumping’ natural barriers,

helping aquatic species to be introduced, disperse and sometimes establish themselves in

environments they were not supposed to reach. Indeed, at every moment, it is estimated that

7,000 different species are being transported in ships along with ballast water.

The issue of aquatic invasive species, including the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms

and pathogens (HAOP) in ships’ ballast water and sediments, has been identified by the

International Maritime Organization (IMO) as one of the greatest threats to global marine bio-

diversity and ecosystems (along with land-based sources of pollution, habitat loss and

overfishing), and is also a significant threat to coastal economies and even public health.

Global economic impacts from invasive alien species, including disruption to fisheries, fouling

of coastal industry and infrastructure and interference with human amenities, are estimated

to exceed tens of billions of dollars per year. The impacts are set to increase in coming

years: indeed, unlike oil spills, there is certain latency before noticing the presence and

effects of an invasive alien species. Additionally, this type of ‘pollution’ is almost irreversible:

once they have become established in a new environment, it is virtually impossible to control

or eradicate invasive marine species.

Moreover, as globalization of the world economy and the associated trade is continuing

further, the commerce of goods and commodities relies more and more on shipping, which in

turn is likely to accelerate the rate of transfer of potential HAOP. Countries in the WCR are at

particular risk, as new markets, and therefore new ports and shipping routes, are created.

Many ports in the region export bulk commodities and oil and, in return, receive large

amounts of ballast water. Furthermore, some of the Countries of the WCR are islands and

rely largely on shipping to import necessary goods. A large amount of ballast water is thus

transferred in the WCR and hence the marine environment in the region is exposed to the

arrival of potential HAOP. The risk of marine bio-invasions, and their possible long-lasting

implications on the ecosystems and their biodiversity, but also on human health and

economy, is therefore extremely important, and the WCR was thus designated as one of the

top priority regions during the second phase of the 5-year (2008-2012) GloBallast Project, a

joint programme between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) and IMO. The implementation of the IMO /GEF /UNDP

GloBallast Partnerships project (Building Partnerships to Assist Developing Countries to

Reduce the Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms in Ships’ Ballast Water) was initiated in

2008. The GloBallast Partnerships builds on the pilot phase and focuses on the

implementation of the BWM Convention by assisting countries to enact legal, policy and

institutional reforms to minimize the impacts of aquatic invasive species transferred by ships.

The consequences of these invasions could include:

Ecosystem changes: The original species composition and/or ecological processes

may be altered by the introduction of alien (invasive) specie(s).

Economic impacts: Fisheries, tourism (including diving) and coastal industry and

other commercial activities and resources may be disrupted by the invading

specie(s), resulting in loss of revenue and/or removal costs.

Public health impacts: People may fall ill or even die from consumption of, or direct

exposure to toxic organisms, diseases and pathogens introduced through ballast

water.

In response to the aquatic threat, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the

maritime industry have been working on the issue of ships’ ballast water introduction for

more than twenty years, initially developing voluntary guidelines and then developing a

legally binding international regime to meet the new challenges posed by the problem. In

February 2004, these global efforts culminated with the adoption of the International

Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM

Convention). The Convention sets out strict treatment standards for ballast water discharges,

which, when in force, will apply to different ships at different times depending on their

construction date and their tanks’ ballast water capacity. Additionally, the Convention

provides guidance for the type approval of ballast water treatment systems and identifies

detailed procedures to ensure that the environmental toxicity of ballast water is evaluated

and minimized, resulting in safe discharges of treated ballast water. This is especially

important when systems use chemical treatment methods. Strengthening national and

regional capacity and fostering regional co-operation for the effective implementation of the

BWM Convention is critical for successfully managing the issue of HAOP. A set of such

measures in the form of a regional Strategic Action Plan (SAP) is considered and endorsed

by the member Governments.

2. OBJECTIVES OF A REGIONAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN (SAP)

The overall objectives of a regional SAP are:

.1 To provide a regional framework for the activities that need to be developed and

implemented within the WCR in order to mitigate, minimize and eventually eliminate

the transfer of HAOP in ships’ ballast water, in accordance with the BWM Convention

and relevant programmes such as the GEF/UNDP/IMO GloBallast Partnerships

project (GBP);

.2 To enhance regional cooperation and capacity in BWM matters towards the

protection and conservation of the marine environment in the WCR using the existing

regional bodies; and,

3 Encourage the accession to the BWM Convention by IMO Member States and

facilitate the harmonized implementation of effective ballast water management

strategies and policies within the Region.

The specific objectives of the proposed SAP are to:

1. Ensure effective co-ordination and support of the ballast water related activities

through the establishment of an adequate institutional framework;

2. Increase awareness on the potential dangers associated with the transfer of HAOP,

notably through ballast water;

3. Build capacity and provide training to address ballast water management matters at

the regional and national levels;

4. Develop and implement regional and country specific programmes to identify

sensitive areas and activities that may be at risk from marine bio-invasions, and

ensure their protection;

5. Facilitate the necessary regional coordination and co-operation required for the

development of legal, policy and institutional arrangements at the national level to

address the issue of ballast water, including the promotion of the accession to the

BWM Convention;

6. Develop and implement compliance monitoring and enforcement programmes to

ensure the successful implementation of the BWM Convention;

7. Encourage regional co-operation to ensure harmonized implementation of the

standardized regime for ballast water management; and,

8. Identify any opportunities for self-financing of ballast water related activities to ensure

sustainable implementation of the international requirements and the protection of the

coastal and marine resources at the regional level.

9. Identify other regional programs and activities with similar goals to marry up for joint

activities and initiatives.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION

The Strategic Action Plan covers the Wider Caribbean Region, defined by the Cartagena Convention as the marine environment of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the areas of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent thereto, south of 30 deg north latitude and within 200 nautical miles of the Atlantic coasts of Territories and States pertaining to the following Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America and Venezuela. In addition, the SAP also covers El Salvador. Fisheries (both major industrial fisheries and artisanal fisheries) and coastal tourism (e.g.

diving) are two of the major sources of income for many of the countries of the WCR. The

coastal waters of the WCR contain biologically diverse (with many endemic species) and

highly productive ecosystems that support both industries. These sensitive ecosystems

provide an important livelihood for many coastal communities. Due, amongst other factors, to

the presence of the Panama Canal, the maritime traffic in the WCR is important, and the

region has numerous busy ports. There is also a significant offshore oil industry in the region

(e.g. Gulf of Mexico), and about one third of the world oil production originates or passes

through the WCR.

Globalization has brought great changes to shipping in the WCR. Ships are becoming bigger

and faster, which means that more ballast water is carried by ships from and to the countries

in a shorter time, giving unwanted stowaways more chances to survive. Furthermore,

environmental concerns, especially marine, are trans-boundary. Any environmental problem

within any part of the WCR can no longer be considered as an isolated or localized incident,

but rather as a matter with potentially far-reaching ecological and socioeconomic

implications. In this regard, the spreading of the Indo-Pacific Lionfish in the WCR should be

noted.

All countries in the WCR are Member States of the IMO and generally have a strong history

of ratifying IMO Conventions, with a common interest in the protection of the marine

environment. They all have shown great concern with respect to the threats that human

activities bring to the world ocean, particularly the biological invasions induced by shipping

activities.

4. WIDER CARIBBEN REGION STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Strategic Priority 1. Commit to the implementation of international instruments

developed to minimize the introduction of harmful aquatic

organisms and pathogens in the Wider Caribbean Region

Growing recognition of the impacts of invasive species has led to a widespread response to

the issue, in the form of legal instruments as well as programmes aimed at developing

practical, technical solutions.

With the adoption of the BWM Convention by consensus at IMO, Countries of the WCR are

encouraged to accede to the convention as early as possible, but, in the meantime, to adopt

the necessary measures following the provisions of the Convention and IMO guidelines and

resolutions, to ensure the incorporation of the BWM Convention into national legislation.

Countries will need to carry out, at the national level, a review of the existing legal and policy

framework related to ballast water management, so that any new regulations or legislation on

this matter will comply with the BWM Convention and are of course not unconstitutional.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region support the work for the minimization of the

introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens being carried out by the

relevant organizations and forums, particularly the work of the International Maritime

Organization and are committed to take all appropriate actions toward accession to

the BWM Convention for its entry into force as soon as possible.

Strategic Priority 2. Maintain and enhance capacity-building activities and initiatives

in the Wider Caribbean Region.

IMO Member States have adopted, in 2004, the International Convention for the Control and

Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention), which provides a

new international legal regime to address the threat of HAOP. In article 13, the BWM

Convention requires Parties with common interests to protect the environment, human

health, property and resources in a given geographical area. It also calls for the provision of

technical assistance to train personnel, initiating joint research and development

programmes and undertaking action aimed at the effective implementation of the instrument.

A pre-requisite for any successful programme is to identify all stakeholders and bring them to

a common platform in terms of developing the preliminary skill-base to deal with BWM

matters and bio-invasions in general, with the view to facilitating discussion among the

various stakeholders in each country and in the region. Several activities contained in this

strategy address training and capacity building issues with respect to specific areas of BWM.

Under the GloBallast Partnerships project, a number of important activities and initiatives are

being undertaken in the Caribbean region, which significantly help develop and strengthen the

expertise within the region and the capacity of the Countries of the WCR in the field of ballast

water management. However, the lifetime of the GloBallast Partnerships project is limited and

the project is expected to end in 2014.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region agree to continue efforts made in the region

to enhance capacity building, knowledge transfer and training of personnel after the

GloBallast Partnerships Project terminates, and to involve relevant international and

regional co-operation mechanisms, non-governmental organizations, and agencies for

the continuation of the process initiated.

Strategic Priority 3 Develop knowledge on the environmental condition of the Seas of

the Wider Caribbean Region and invasive alien species

introduced by ships.

The development and updating of knowledge in the field of invasive alien species introduced

by ships in the Wider Caribbean Region is fundamental in order to have a sound scientific,

technical and legal basis as a solid basis for management measures.

Effort must be made to compile relevant data and enhance knowledge on the above issues.

These efforts need to be strengthened with comprehensive species inventories, data on

species present in ports and data related to maritime traffic in the region, as well as relevant

oceanographic data. The compilation of comprehensive species inventories for individual

ports plays a significant role in ballast water management. For a port to effectively manage

the ballast water associated with its shipping movements, data must be available and

complete from the local port as well as from the source ports for the ballast water being

received.

A port baseline survey is considered vital for assessing existing natural conditions and the

presence or absence of introduced marine species. Such surveys should be conducted in

accordance with internationally adopted protocols / guidelines such as the CRIMP Protocol,

and should be conducted on an ongoing basis as a long-term biological monitoring

programme for each port in the WCR. This will allow any introduction to be tracked and

managed, and any new introductions to be detected.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region agree to promote, individually or through

regional co-operation, research and development programmes in the field of invasive

alien species and ships’ ballast water management, as means to enhance knowledge

and assist in the establishment of scientific grounds on which best measures on

controlling the transfer of invasive alien species can be based. The Countries also

agree that results of such scientific work should be made available to all interested

parties.

Strategic Priority 4. Use risk assessment as a reliable tool to assist in ballast water

management decision-making and in compliance, monitoring and

enforcement procedures

Risk assessment and ballast water management. Risk assessment can be helpful in

ensuring that the provisions of the BWM Convention are applied in a consistent manner,

based on scientifically robust groundwork. In particular, the IMO has developed Guidelines

for the implementation of the BWM Convention under which risk assessment is needed. The

Guidelines on Designation of Areas for Ballast Water Exchange (G14) are of particular

relevance for the Wider Caribbean Region, as it addresses the sea areas where a vessel

cannot exchange its ballast water and where the port State may designate areas, in

consultation with adjacent or other States, where a ship may conduct ballast water

exchange. The IMO also recommends carrying out risk assessment when a Party, within

waters under its jurisdiction, is granting exemptions to ships (G7 Guidelines for Risk

Assessment under Regulation A4 of the BWM Convention).

Risk assessment is also essential to have a sound knowledge of the overall risks for

introduction of invasive alien species associated with the maritime traffic in the Wider

Caribbean Region. When resources are limited, management actions such as compliance,

monitoring and enforcement (CME) maybe prioritized according to the higher risk areas or

vessels.

Biological invasion of ports. Major shipping ports are often the first places where invasive

alien species are introduced and become established. Port Biological Baseline Surveys

(PBBS) are used to develop a baseline list of species – both native and non-native – that are

present in a shipping port. Subsequent long-term monitoring regimes should be put in place

to continue building an information database in this field and detect any new invasions. This

data can be used to communicate risks to other shipping ports or countries, as appropriate,

and provide an essential reference point for management of non-native species. As they

target marine pests, PBBS can also help raise awareness of marine pest issues within the

region. Most importantly, they allow any existing introductions to be recorded, tracked, and

managed.

Ports at risk of biologic invasion. Some ports in the Wider Caribbean Region are more at

risk of biological invasion as they are ports receiving greater volumes of ballast water

originating from ports located outside the Region. It should be noted that once a harmful

species is introduced in one port located in the Wider Caribbean Region, there is a risk of

secondary introduction of other ports located within the region.

To facilitate effective ballast water management, each country needs to know the level and

types of risks of introductions that its ports may face, as well as the most sensitive resources

and values that might be threatened. Risk assessments at the national/port level can function

as a useful tool for such management, given that adequate background information is

available.

Risk Assessment could also be used by countries to effectively manage resources in order to

make progress on multiple fronts for implementing the convention. For instance, a country

may have ten ports in need of a PBBS, however, only two deal in large quantities of ballast

water. PBBS’s could be conducted on those two only, in the first instance, the others being

reserved for a later date.

A regional-level risk assessment could be used to identify the priority ports for detailed risk

assessment.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region consider risk assessments at national, sub-

regional or regional level, as an appropriate tool to guide ballast water management

measures and are committed to establish surveys and monitoring programmes

including reporting and alert mechanisms.

Strategic Priority 5. Decide upon voluntary regional arrangements in the Wider

Caribbean Region and ensure sub-regional and national

strategies are in line with these.

Given the transboundary nature of invasive alien species issue, it must be recognized that

individual countries cannot effectively address this concern on their own. A harmonized

regional ballast water management regime has to be agreed upon by the coastal States of

the Wider Caribbean Region, which takes into account the maritime traffic lanes in the region

and the origin and distribution of ballast water in the ports of the region, as well as the

particular geographical constraints of the area and associated scientific and oceanographic

data.

As the BWM Convention is not yet in force, voluntary measures are called for in order to

address the introduction of invasive alien species in ships’ ballast water and sediments in the

Wider Caribbean Region. In addition, harmonized procedures incorporated in a compliance

monitoring and enforcement (CME) system should be implemented by all countries of the

region. Sub-regional approaches within the Wider Caribbean Region area are encouraged

also and existing sub-regional agreements in the Wider Caribbean Region should consider

integrating BWM issues in their work, in coherence with the regional approach adopted.

National strategies established by coastal States in the Wider Caribbean Region should take

into account and be consistent with the policy and arrangements agreed upon at sub-

regional and regional levels.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region agree to work collaboratively to adopt

regional voluntary arrangements concerning ballast water management in the Wider

Caribbean Region, consistent with the requirements and standards set out in the BWM

Convention.

Strategic Priority 6. Regional cooperation and consideration of other regional seas

strategies and initiatives.

A key objective of this SAP is to achieve regional coordination in the WCR and to harmonize

the implementation of national and regional BWM Strategies in line with the BMW

Convention. Regional cooperation is also necessary for the continuous and joint progress of

all the Countries of the WCR. All Countries are thus encouraged to disseminate, during

regional activities or through existing regional bodies (e.g. UNEP CAR/RCU,

RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe), the lessons learned at the national level during the implementation

of a BWM regime.

The Regional Task Force on Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and

Sediments in the Wider Caribbean Region and El Salvador (RTF-WCR) created within the

GBP project will help to facilitate the process as well as to establish linkages with other

regions.

Harmonization of approaches to ballast water management across regional seas is essential

to help achieve the goals of the BWM Convention. Communication and alignment with

neighbouring regions and their BWM structures is needed to ensure consistency between the

regimes, and also to promote sharing of information between these interlinked marine

regions. A dialogue should also be established with other relevant regional seas Secretariats

such as the OSPAR Commission for the North-East Atlantic, which agreed in June 2007 on

“General Guidance on the Voluntary Interim Application of the D1 Ballast Water Exchange

Standards in the North-East Atlantic”, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) for the Baltic Sea,

which developed a roadmap towards a harmonized implementation of the BWM Convention,

and the ROPME Sea Area which recently adopted regional measures on ballast water

management exchange.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region are committed to achieve regional

coordination in the WCR, to harmonize the implementation of national and regional

BWM Strategies in line with the BWM Convention and to enhance and maintain

cooperation with the neighbouring regions of the Wider Caribbean Region and with

other relevant regional agreements in order to ensure that the measures adopted are

consistent with other ballast water management regional arrangements.

Strategic Priority 7 Develop an information exchange network

The exchange of information related to ballast water management issues among the

countries of the WCR, which is timely and easily accessible, is essential to ensure the

implementation of the provisions of the BWM Convention in the region. This can be best

achieved by the use of an information exchange network in the Wider Caribbean Region.

This network will facilitate communications with and between countries, as well as function

as a clearing house mechanism (CHM)1 for data and ballast water management related

information within the region. The network will also ensure appropriate linkages with other

regions and international programmes (e.g. GloBallast) involved with ballast water

management issues.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region are committed to the establishment of an

information exchange network in the WCR

Strategic Priority 8 Encourage and support public awareness initiatives

The dangers of uncontrolled discharges of ballast water, as well as the BWM Convention,

are not well known at the national and regional levels. This lack of information and a

generally low level of awareness on BWM issues are major obstacles requiring priority

attention.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region are committed to encouraging and

supporting public awareness initiatives

Strategic Priority 9 Implementation of the Strategic Plan

The Cartagena Convention provides an appropriate legal framework to channel the efforts at

the regional level in the Wider Caribbean Region.

1 Clearing House Mechanism is an electronic information network of countries in the WCR

working together to facilitate implementation of the WCR Strategy and Action Plan. It is a

mechanism to facilitate access to and exchange of information on HAOP and IAS in the

WCR. A CHM is compatible with different levels of national capacity; needs-driven; provides

access to information; supports decision-making; has no vested interest in controlling the

expertise or information; and is created for the mutual benefit of all participants


Sediments in the Wider Caribbean Region and El Salvador (RTF-WCR) created within the

GloBallast Partnerships Project as a supporting regional mechanism established within the

framework of the UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), and tasked, inter alia,

to develop and adopt a Regional Strategy as well as an Action Plan for its implementation, is

well placed to continue to be the driving force for the implementation of the Regional

Strategy. The GloBallast Partnerships Project is scheduled to end in 2014 and it is unlikely

that all the countries in the region will be ready to give full effect to the BWM Convention by

that time. Therefore it is important to BWM in the region that RTF-WCR continues to operate

with the same mandate. The Terms of Reference of RTF-WCR are attached to the Regional

Strategy and Action Plan (Annex I).

RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe is the Regional Coordinating Organization in the Wider Caribbean

Region for the GloBallast Partnerships project that aims to help developing countries to

establish ballast water management policies in order to decrease the risk of marine bio-

invasions. It is also the Secretariat of the RTF-WCR. As such it has a key role to play, both

regionally and nationally in the development of measures for the control and management of

ship’s ballast water and sediments in the Wider Caribbean Region. RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe

can continue to facilitate a more comprehensive participation and longevity for BWM

initiatives in the WCR.

Implementation of the Regional Strategy and Action Plan must also take into consideration

the involvement of regional bodies such as:

Caribbean MoU;

CARICOM

Inter-American Committee on Ports;

COCATRAM, ROCRAM and ROCRAM-CA;

United States Coast Guard (USCG); and,

Viña del Mar MoU.

A Regional Scientific Committee should be established and provide advice to the RTF-WCR

as appropriate, including on matters such as the correct Protocol to be used for PBBS in the

WCR.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region consider that RTF-WCR is an important

supporting regional mechanism for the implementation of the Regional Strategy and

Action Plan and agree that at the end of the GloBallast Partnerships Project it

continues to operate with its original mandate, supported by RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe

and a Regional Scientific Committee, taking into consideration regional bodies

relevant to its work.

Strategic Priority 10. Keep the Strategy and Action plan under review and assess their

implementation progress

The Strategy and Action Plan should be subject to periodic review to take into account

emerging issues, outcomes of research and development (R&D) activities and experience

gained from its operation and implementation.

Periodic gatherings of representatives of the regional coordinating mechanism and

Secretariats should be arranged to assess progress with implementation of the various

regional strategies and arrangements and facilitate reaching a harmonized approach at the

global level.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region will meet regularly as appropriate, including

the use of online forums, with the purpose of reviewing and evaluating the ongoing

relevance of the Strategy, and overall effectiveness of activities carried out under the

Action Plan, and agree that the work accomplished in the various regional seas

regarding the management of ballast water is on the agenda of meetings and forums

gathering the various regional Secretariats and agreements.

Strategic Priority 11. Identify, and where applicable source, adequate resources to

implement activities under the Strategy and Action Plan

Recognizing that budgetary resources provided through multilateral and bilateral donors are

not infinite, one of the objectives of this SAP is to identify various opportunities for self-

financing of the ballast water related activities beyond the external intervention.

Since the development of self-financing mechanisms will largely be handled at the national

level, the RTF-WCR shall aid the review of opportunities for self-financing of the activities

related to ballast water management to the extent possible (e.g. GloBallast Self Financing

Report). The RTF-WCR will evaluate any opportunities for ongoing resource mobilization,

contributions, collaborations or co-financing in order to help sustain ballast water

management activities in the long-term.

The long-term objective of Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region is to ensure the

sustainability and continuity of activities from self-financing sources.

5. ACTION PLAN

The present Action Plan for the implementation of the Regional Strategy on Ships’ Ballast

Water Management identifies the main measures to be taken at regional level, sub-regional

or national level in accordance with the Strategic Priorities, and includes a

workplan/timetable for their implementation (Appendix).

The actions outlined in this SAP are structured to initiate and help support ballast water

management measures throughout the region in a manner that is sustainable and consistent

with international regimes and domestic legislations.

Action 1. Accede to the International Convention for the Control and Management

of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments 2004 (BWM Convention)

Accession to the BWM Convention is urged in order that, when it enters into force, the

treatment standards for ballast water discharges become applicable to ships. To help the

process at national level, national policy initiatives preparing the ground and leading to

accession should be undertaken.

An important step in achieving the proposed objectives of the SAP will be the creation of

National Task Forces (NTF) including the major stakeholders in BWM, taking into

consideration the IMO related guidelines. The NTF in each of the participating countries will

develop their National Action Plan for BWM with the support of the RTF-WCR, including the

provision of templates through the GloBallast Programme and other related programmes or

projects as appropriate.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region, agree:

a) to form a national task force to lead the process towards accession to the

BWM Convention;

b) to develop national legislation to give effect to the BWM Convention by

providing, inter alia, penalties for violators as well as regulations which

would set out technical arrangements for its enforcement.

c) to use material from the GloBallast Programme, including the model

legislation where appropriate, and lead partner countries as aids in the

process.

Action 2. Enhance expertise; facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building in

the Wider Caribbean Region

Given the absence of national legislation and technical initiatives related to ballast water

management in several States of the Wider Caribbean Region, an effective Capacity Building

programme should be established to assist in carrying out activities, which will assist in

implementing the Strategy and Action Plan. Capacity building activities should cover the

following:

1. identification of National Lead Agencies and relevant stakeholders for ballast

water issues and formation of cross-sector / inter-ministerial working groups

and committees;

2. communication and awareness raising activities;

3. port biota baseline surveys, monitoring and ballast water risk assessment;

4. research and development projects;

5. drafting of national ballast water legislation and regulations;

6. compliance monitoring and enforcement;

7. developing national ballast water management strategies and action plans;

and

8. developing self-financing mechanisms.

Training activities should be organized both at regional and sub-regional level taking into

consideration similarities such as the geographical areas concerned, the language, the

status of ratification etc. In addition, these training activities should be carried out using the

“Train the Trainer approach” where appropriate and used by countries to replicate these

training activities at national level. Such training will target all stakeholders, including but not

limited to: Port State Control and Port Health Officers, environmental agencies and ship

agents. It is therefore anticipated that each country will replicate the training programmes at

the national level. GloBallast Partnerships and RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe will provide the

relevant training package in the appropriate languages to requesting Countries and will look

into the development of training packages to be delivered online.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region, agree

a. to investigate the possibility of including training programmes and other capacity-

building activities in the regular programme of work of the relevant regional

activity Centres of the WCR;

b. to seek and secure support, individually or through RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe, from

the IMO Technical Cooperation Division (TCD), or other international organizations

for national, sub-regional or regional training courses and other capacity-building

actions in support of activities of the Action Plan;

c. to disseminate protocols and tools for standardization of technical approaches

that could be used to conduct regional and national activities;

d. that countries with specific expertise on ballast water management related

activities help organize national, sub-regional or regional training sessions;

e. to replicate such training on a national level through the establishment of a

national training programme on ballast water management activities; and

f. to deliver an introductory training course on ballast water management, using the

GloBallast training package, to decisions-makers of countries in the WCR.

Action 3 Establish a survey, biological monitoring and risk assessment system

for ports in the Wider Caribbean Region

The development of a uniform regional biological monitoring system for ports of the Wider

Caribbean Region is crucial to understanding the nature of what is being managed, and

supporting the methods through which the management is implemented. The process of

developing this system should be composed of the following elements:

1. Collection of data (biological, physical, chemical) on port environments;

2. Reviewing best practices, existing literature and approaches, in order to agree on

common approaches/protocols;

3. Identifying biological data requirements for proposed risk assessment and

management measure (non-indigenous species, harmful species, and pathogens);

4. Identifying long-term monitoring procedures (parameters, frequency);

5. Reviewing existing monitoring programmes, if any, to see if these meet common

approaches/protocols;

6. Preparing common implementation guidelines on Port Biological Baseline Surveys

and Monitoring.

In some areas of the Wider Caribbean Region, countries may identify sub-regional

mechanisms for collaboration on surveys, monitoring and risk assessment.


a) to develop a regionally standardized biological sampling and monitoring

protocol for use of countries of the WCR in building the necessary biological

and environmental databases to support the IAS management objectives;

b) to collaborate, preferably following sub-regional approaches where relevant, on

biological survey and monitoring activities, including to promote and ensure

sharing of technical capacity, resources and results;

c) to seek institutional support at the national level to conduct port biological

surveys and plans for monitoring, as part of their national strategy for ballast

water and IAS management;

d) to use a regional Clearing House Mechanism for sharing of data related to port

surveys and ongoing biological monitoring; and

e) that RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe engage with appropriate international and regional

organisations for potential technical assistance and support.

Action 4. Adopt harmonized arrangements for ballast water exchange in the Wider

Caribbean Region

The seas of the WCR are semi enclosed and support fragile ecosystems upon which the

economies of most of the countries of the region depend. The region is vulnerable to

invasive alien species, including the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms. Countries of the

WCR have a vested interest in the effective management and control of ships’ ballast water

and sediments as quickly as possible using harmonized arrangements.

The harmonized arrangements are based on the relevant components and requirements of

the BWM Convention. Until such a time as the Convention has entered into force, the

arrangements should remain an interim voluntary instrument. This does not prejudice the

right of any Contracting Party to determine special requirements in certain areas under their

jurisdiction, in conformity with international law.

The text of Harmonized Voluntary Arrangements for Ballast Water Management in The Wider

Caribbean Region is given at Annex II.


a) to adopt harmonized voluntary arrangements for ballast water exchange in the

Wider Caribbean Region; and

b) to notify all interested parties of the adoption of harmonized voluntary

arrangements for ballast water exchange in the Wider Caribbean Region

through notices to shipping and instructions to surveyors.

Action 5 Establish a Scientific Committee

A Regional Scientific Committee should be established as a correspondence group to

provide timely advice to the RTF-WCR on scientific matters, as appropriate, including the

Protocol to be used for PBBS.

The composition of the Committee and the identification of its members would be determined

by the RTF-WCR.


a) to the establishment of the Scientific Committee to advise on scientific matters,

as appropriate.

b) that the RTF-WCR will determine the composition and identify the members of

the Scientific Committee

Action 6 Establish a Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) system in

the WCR

In association with the development and implementation of the harmonized regional ballast

water management regime, a generic compliance and monitoring system (CME) needs to be

developed to ensure compliance with the measures proposed within the regime. The CME

system should incorporate the following:

1. requirement for ships to collect and record information about their BWM practices (i.e.

uptake, management en route and discharge);

2. means for ships to transmit this information to the Port States’ BWM regulatory

authority, and to subsequently receive directions from them;

3. provision for examination of the ships’ official log books or other official records to

ascertain compliance with the BWM requirements of the Port State;

4. ability by the appropriate authority to obtain ballast water and sediment samples and

carry out any necessary testing;

5. legal provision for enforcement measures to be applied for non-compliance with the

required BWM requirements, and provisions for applying sanctions to violations; and

6. effective communication arrangements on a regional level to ensure proper tracking

of violations and exchange of experience during the application of the CME system

on a national level.


a) to adapt their existing Port State Control & CME systems in accordance with

the BWM Convention; and

b) to establish and maintain up to-date a regional communication system

possibly within a clearing house mechanism (CHM), to allow exchange of

experience and tracking of violations utilizing existing control agreements such

as the Caribbean MoU, USCG and the Vina del Mar MoU on Port State Control.

Action 7. Enhance public awareness on ships’ ballast water and invasive alien

species issues

With a view to alert general and targeted public to the risks associated with introducing non-

indigenous marine species in the marine environment, and in this way add to the efforts

towards preventing and controlling the introduction of invasive species into the Wider

Caribbean Region, coastal States and the maritime industry should involve themselves in

endeavors to raise knowledge and awareness on the subject. General or specific awareness

materials, according to the type of public targeted, are to be used when they exist, or be

developed, preferably in the local language of their respective countries. Awareness

materials already prepared by IMO-Globallast are available for download from its website2

including brochures, posters and other educational documents and tools. Where possible,

collaborative partnerships will be forged between countries, and with NGO’s and other public

interest groups to aid in organizing targeted public awareness campaigns.


a) to use IMO Globallast Public awareness materials and translate these to local

languages for dissemination at national level;

b) to carry out national seminars and workshops to raise awareness among the

various stakeholders involved; and

c) to develop local case studies that may be used effectively for awareness and

leveraging support within the Wider Caribbean Region and it’s sub-regions.

2 http://globallast.imo.org/index.asp?page=AwarenessMaterials.htm&menu=true

http://globallast.imo.org/index.asp?page=AwarenessMaterials.htm&menu=true

Action 8. Set-up a web-based WCR mechanism for exchanging information

To facilitate information exchange related to ballast water management issues among the

Contracting Parties, an information exchange network is considered necessary in the Wider

Caribbean Region. This network will facilitate communications with and between countries,

as well as function as a clearing house mechanism (CHM) for data and ballast water

management related information within the region.

Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region, agree to establish an online forum hosted

by RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe for the purpose of BWM information sharing.

Action 9. Incorporate the Action Plan evaluation within the Cartagena Convention

reporting system and procedure

The Action Plan is subject to periodic review to accommodate any developments on ballast

water management at the regional or global level and adjusted / updated accordingly. The

implementation of the Action Plan should be carried out under the coordination of

RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe as a continuation of the present efforts of the Centre devoted to

enhance expertise in the region on ballast water management issues. RAC/REMPEITC-

Caribe should be kept updated at least annually on the status of actions taken to implement

national action plans for ballast water management and in addition, actions taken on a

national level should be evaluated periodically under the Cartagena Convention to determine

their effectiveness.


a) that RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe will coordinate and assist with the implementation

of the Strategic Action Plan in the region;

b) that RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe will inform its meetings of Focal Points, which take

place every two years, on the status of implementation of the Action Plan, for

subsequent transmission to the Ordinary Meetings of the Contracting Parties to

the Cartagena Convention; and

c) to provide RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe with the relevant information on national-

based activities annually, and as they occur, with the purpose of reviewing and

evaluating its ongoing relevance

6. EXPECTED OUTCOMES

The expected outcomes from implementing the SAP will include:

.1 the increased public and political awareness and support for BWM approaches in

the region;

.2 strong and continuing presence of ballast water management and control capacity

in the region;

.3 reduction in the transfer of potentially harmful organisms to the region’s marine

environment

.4 adoption of harmonized national and regional approaches consistent with IMO

recommendations including the accession to the BWM Convention;

.5 uniform application of regulations related to the BWM Convention;

.6 regional network of coordinated research and monitoring centres for ballast water

transfers connected to a global network;

.7 increased level of protection and conservation of habitats and species of national,

regional and global significance;

.8 protection of fisheries and aquaculture/mariculture activities in and around coastal

areas;

.9 protection of other economic activities including tourism and other coastal

industries;

.10 protection of infrastructure that may be threatened by HAOP;

.11 increased engagement of industry in the ballast water issue;

.12 increased levels of protection of human health;

.13 reduction of the loss of coastal biodiversity and degradation of coastal

environments; and

.14 informed and effective participation in the ballast water management and control

process at global level.

Appendix Page 19

Appendix

WORK PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE

Action Points Activities

Year

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

1.

Accede to the

International

Convention for

the Control and

Management of

Ships’ Ballast

Water and

Sediments (BWM

Convention)

a) Form a national task force to lead the

process towards the ratification of the

BWM Convention;

b) Develop national legislation to give

effect to the BWM Convention by

providing, inter alia, penalties for

violators as well as regulations which

would set out technical arrangements

for its enforcement

c) Use material from the GloBallast Programme as an aid in the process

2.

Enhance

expertise;

facilitate

knowledge

transfer and

capacity building

in the Wider

Caribbean

Region

a) Investigate the possibility of including

training programmes and other

capacity-building activities in the regular

programme of work of the relevant

regional activity Centres of the WCR

b) Seek and secure support, individually

or through RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe,

from the IMO Technical Cooperation

Division (TCD), or other international

organizations for national, sub-regional

or regional training courses and other

capacity-building actions in support of

activities of the Action Plan

c) Disseminate protocols and tools for

standardization of technical approaches

that could be used to conduct regional

and national activities

d) Countries with specific expertise on

ballast water management related

activities help organize national, sub-

regional or regional training sessions

e) Replicate such training on a national

level through the establishment of a

national training programme on ballast

water management activities

Appendix Page 20


Year

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

f) Deliver an introductory training course

on ballast water management, using

the GloBallast training package, to

decisions-makers of countries in the

WCR

3.

Establish a

survey, biological

monitoring and

risk assessment

system for ports

in the Wider

Caribbean

Region

a) Develop a regionally standardized

biological sampling and monitoring

protocol for use of countries of the

WCR in building the necessary

biological and environmental databases

to support the IAS management

objectives

b) Collaborate, preferably following sub-

regional approaches where relevant, on

biological survey and monitoring

activities, including to promote and

ensure sharing of technical capacity,

resources and results

c) Seek institutional support at the

national level to conduct port biological

surveys and plans for monitoring, as

part of their national strategy for ballast

water and IAS management

d) Use a regional Clearing House

Mechanism for sharing of data related

to port surveys and ongoing biological

monitoring

e) RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe engage with

appropriate international and regional

organisations for potential technical

assistance and support

4.

Adopt harmonized

arrangements for

ballast water

exchange in the

Wider Caribbean

Region

a) Adopt harmonized voluntary

arrangements for ballast water

exchange in the Wider Caribbean

Region (Annex II)

b) Notify all interested parties of the

adoption of harmonized voluntary

arrangements for ballast water

exchange in the Wider Caribbean

Region through notices to shipping and

instructions to surveyors

Appendix Page 21


Year

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

5.

Establish a

Scientific

Committee

a) Establish a Scientific Committee to

advise on scientific matters, as

appropriate, including the Protocol to

be used for PBBS and arrangements

for ballast water exchange in the WCR

b) RTF-WCR determine the composition and identify the members of the Scientific Committee

6.

Establish a

Compliance

Monitoring and

Enforcement

(CME) system in

the WCR

a) Adapt existing Port State Control &

CME systems in accordance with the

BWM Convention

b) Establish and maintain up to-date a regional communication system possibly within a clearing house mechanism, to allow exchange of experience and tracking of violations utilizing existing control agreements such as the Caribbean MoU, USCG and the Vina del Mar MoU on Port State Control

7.

Enhance public

awareness on

ships’ ballast

water and

invasive alien

species issues

a) Use IMO GloBallast Public awareness

materials and translated these to local

languages for dissemination at national

level

b) Carry out national seminars and workshops to raise awareness among the various stakeholders involved

c) Develop local case studies that may be used effectively for awareness and leveraging support within the Wider Caribbean Region and it’s sub-regions

8.

Set-up a web-

based WCR

mechanism for

exchanging

information

Establish an online forum hosted by RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe for the purpose of BWM information sharing

9.

Incorporate the

Action Plan

a) RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe to coordinate

and assist with the implementation of

the Action Plan in the region

Appendix Page 22


Year

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

evaluation within

the Cartagena

Convention

reporting system

and procedure

b) RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe will inform its meetings of Focal Points, which take place every two years, on the status of implementation of the Action Plan, for subsequent transmission to the Ordinary Meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention

c) Countries of the WCR will provide RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe with the relevant information on national-based activities annually, and as they occur, with the purpose of reviewing and evaluating its ongoing relevance

**

Annex I Page 23

ANNEX I

Terms of Reference for the Regional Task Force on Control and Management of Ships’

Ballast Water and Sediments in the Wider Caribbean Region

I. Purpose of the Regional Task Force


Sediments in the Wider Caribbean Region and El Salvador (hereafter RTF-WCR) should be

considered as a supporting regional mechanism established within the framework of the

UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), in order to facilitate:

a. Bringing into effect the International Convention for the Control and Management of

Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention), adopted in 2004;

b. Ensuring coherent compliance with and enforcement of the said BWM Convention

and of its associated guidelines, recommendations and practices in the Wider

Caribbean Region;

c. Implementing the activities designed under the GEF/UNDP/IMO GloBallast

Partnerships Project (GBP), as well as activities and measures decided upon under

the Regional Strategy to Minimize the Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and

Pathogens in Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (hereunder referred to as the

Regional Strategy) and its Action Plan;

d. Promoting legal, technical and scientific cooperation on subjects relating to Ballast

Water and Sediments Control and Management;

e. Exchanging of experiences and information on topics such as BWM measures

implemented at the national level and their consequences and Invasive Alien Species

(IAS) control, management and eradication; and

f. Contributing to the work carried out at a global level in the field of ships’ ballast water

and invasive species.

g. Supporting the activities of the National Task Forces in the region.

II. Mandate of the Regional Task Force in the context of implementing the GEF-

UNDP-IMO GloBallast Partnerships Project:

In the context of implementing the GBP, the RTF-WCR should:

a. develop and adopt a Regional Strategy as well as an Action Plan for its

implementation;

Annex I Page 24

b. serve as a mechanism to expand interest and involvement in the GloBallast

Partnerships Project of all Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region as well as other

interested Parties and stakeholders;

c. provide overall strategic policy and management direction to the Project

implementation in the Wider Caribbean Region;

d. provide recommendations to RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe as the Regional Coordination

Organization (RCO) charged with coordinating and managing the Project activities in

the region;

e. assist in identifying and allocating Project support for regional activities consistent

with programme objectives;

f. identify additional funding to support the outputs and activities of the Project;

g. raise issues and concerns, and generate regional status reports, for consideration at

the GloBallast Partnerships Global Project Task Force (GPTF) Meetings;

h. periodically review and assess the progresses of the Project and its components;

i. create mechanisms for interaction with the private sector (shipping, ports), Non

Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders (e.g. public health)

during the Project implementation; and

j. identify mechanisms for national and regional sustainability on ballast water

management issues after the conclusion of GloBallast Partnerships.

III. Mandate of the Regional Task Force in the context of implementing the Strategy

and its related Action Plan:

In the context of implementing the Regional Strategy and its related Action Plan, the Task

Force should oversee, coordinate, and facilitate the work on:

a. regular revision and updating of the Strategy and Action Plan in accordance with the

latest developments on ballast water control and management at the regional and

global level;

b. promotion of the revision/development of national legislations, regulations and

procedures on ballast water control and management with the view to ensuring a

harmonized approach consistent with the BWM Convention;

c. provision of a mechanism for information exchange on invasive alien species in

ballast water in the region as well as on technical control measures taken nationally,

regionally and worldwide;

d. development and delivery of a training programme for personnel involved in ships’

ballast water control and management activities;

Annex I Page 25

e. promotion of measures designed to enhance the public awareness of ships’ ballast

water and invasive alien species issues;

f. coordination of national and regional surveys and monitoring activities of invasive

alien species;

g. coordination of national and regional risk assessment activities including selection of

the appropriate follow up measures and management responses;

h. promotion of research and development in the field of ballast water treatment

techniques and technological methods of controlling the transfer of invasive alien

species;

i. achieving regional agreements on harmonized Compliance Monitoring and

Enforcement (CME) systems and providing guidance to countries for the adaptation

and implementation of such systems at national level;

j. identification of adequate resources for implementing activities under the Strategy

and its Action Plan from relevant Regional Organizations, Countries in the Wider

Caribbean Region, regional and international shipping and port industries, bilateral

and multilateral donors and technical cooperation programmes;

k. ensuring the long-term sustainability and continuity of activities from self-financing

sources within the region.

IV. Establishment and functioning of the Regional Task Force:

1. Establishment of the Task Force:

- the RTF-WCR is established as a Working Group;

- the RTF-WCR is set up by the National Focal Points of the GloBallast Partnerships

Project or alternatively the designated representatives of a National Lead Agency

identified by the Countries.

2. Composition of the Task Force:

- the Task Force comprises the National Focal Points of GloBallast Partnerships

Project or alternatively the designated representatives of a National Lead Agency

identified by the Countries;

- the Task Force is also composed of and assisted by the relevant International and

Regional Organizations, namely the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the

Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme

(UNEP CAR/RCU), the Central American Commission on Maritime Transport

(COCATRAM);

Annex I Page 26

- representatives of major stakeholders (e.g. other interested regional agreements,

industries, scientific communities, academia, NGOs, etc.) will be invited to attend the

RTF-WCR Meetings and might be integrated into the RTF-WCR as deemed

appropriate by its Members.

3. Chair and Secretary of the Task Force:

- The Chairmanship of the RTF-WCR will rotate between the Countries member of the

Task Force, starting with the Lead Partnering Countries of GBP. The Chairmanship

should change at the beginning of each RTF-WCR Meeting and be approved in

plenary.

- RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe will serve as Secretary to the Task Force and to the Task

Force Meetings.

4. Modus operandi:

- the Task Force carries out its work by correspondence and by organizing technical

subject meetings as appropriate;

- during the preparation and adoption of the Strategy and its Action Plan, the Task

Force will meet three times (2009, 2011 and 2012) within the framework of the

GloBallast Partnerships project;

- in the longer term, general meetings to review and evaluate the implementation of the

Strategy and its Action Plan should be organized at least once a year;

- the RTF-WCR should periodically examine and review the present Terms of

Reference and make appropriate recommendations.

5. Reporting:

- The RTF-WCR, through its Secretariat should report to relevant Meetings such as

Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment

Programme. The report should take the form of a progress report, including

appropriate recommendations and proposals on the implementation of Strategy and

its Action Plan.

___________

Annex II Page 27

27

Harmonized Voluntary Arrangements for Ballast Water Management in The Wider

Caribbean Region

Introduction

The harmonized voluntary interim regime is being submitted under paragraph 3 of Article 13

of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and

Sediments (Ballast Water Management Convention) whereby Parties with common interest

to protect the environment, human health, property and resources, particularly those

bordering enclosed or semi-enclosed seas, shall endeavour to enhance regional cooperation,

including through the conclusion of regional agreements consistent with the Convention. The

proposed arrangements take into account other adopted regional policies on ship’s ballast

water exchange.

The regime forms also part of a regional strategy on ship’s ballast water management and

invasive species, developed within the Wider Caribbean Region Action Plan3, with the

technical support of the GloBallast Partnerships Project4. It is based on the requirements of

the Ballast Water Management Convention and is being proposed as an interim regime. The

regime is voluntary; therefore, ships entering the Wider Caribbean Region area are

encouraged to apply these guidelines on a voluntary basis.

This regime will no longer apply when a ship meets the ballast water performance standard

contained in regulation D-2 of the Convention, or when the Convention comes into force and

a ship has to apply the D-2 standard in accordance with the application dates set out in

regulation B-3 of the Convention.

Definitions

Convention means the International Convention for the Control and Management of

Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments; and is hereunder referred to as “Ballast Water

Management Convention”;

Wider Caribbean area means the marine environment of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean

Sea and the areas of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent thereto, south of 30 degrees north latitude

and within 200 nautical miles of the Atlantic coasts of the States referred to in article 25 of the

Cartagena Convention.

3 The Strategic Action Plan covers the Wider Caribbean Region, defined by the Cartagena Convention

as the marine environment of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the areas of the Atlantic Ocean

adjacent thereto, south of 30 deg north latitude and within 200 nautical miles of the Atlantic coasts of the

Territories and States pertaining to the following Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados,

Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, France, Grenada, Guatemala,

Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint

Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, United

Kingdom, United States of America and Venezuela. In addition, the SAP also covers El Salvador.

4 GEF / UNDP / IMO project “Building partnerships to assist developing countries to reduce the transfer

of harmful aquatic organisms in ship's ballast water (GloBallast Partnerships)”.

Annex II Page 28

28

1. Ships entering the waters of Wider Caribbean area from the Atlantic Ocean or

from the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal or leaving the waters of the Wider

Caribbean area to the Atlantic Ocean or to the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal,

should:

(a) undertake ballast water exchange before entering the Wider Caribbean area, or

after leaving the Wider Caribbean area, as applicable, according to the standard

set out in the D-1 Standard of the Ballast Water Management Convention, and

at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land and in waters at least 200

meters in depth5;

(b) in situations where this is not possible, either due to deviating the ship from its

intended voyage or delaying the ship, or for safety reasons, such exchange

should be undertaken before entering the Wider Caribbean area, or after leaving

the Wider Caribbean area, as applicable, according to the standard set out in

the D-1 Standard of the Ballast Water Management Convention, as far from the

nearest land as possible, and in all cases in waters at least 50 nautical miles

from the nearest land and in waters of at least 200 meters depth6.

2. Ships should, when engaged in traffic between ports located within the Wider

Caribbean area;

(a) undertake ballast water exchange, according to the standard set out in the D-

1 Standard of the Ballast Water Management Convention, as far from the

nearest land as possible, and in all cases in waters at least 50 nautical miles

from the nearest land and in waters of at least 200 meters depth. The area,

where such requirements are met in the Wider Caribbean area, appear in the

map provided;

(b) in situations where this is not possible either due to deviating the ship from

its intended voyage or delaying the ship, or for safety reasons, exchange of

ballast water should be undertaken in areas designated by the port State for

that purpose7;

and, if a port State decides to designate a ballast water exchange areas,

(c) such areas shall be assessed in accordance with the Guidelines on

designation of ballast water areas for ballast water exchange developed by the

International Maritime Organization8, and in consultation with adjacent States

and all interested States.

5 These geographical parameters are those set by Regulation B-4.1.1 of the Ballast Water Management

Convention. 6 These geographical parameters are those set by Regulation B-4.1.2 of the Ballast Water

Management Convention. 7 Regulation B-4.2 of the Ballast Water Management Convention.

8 Guidelines on Designation of Ballast Water Areas for Ballast Water Exchange (G14), adopted on 13

October 2006. Resolution MEPC.151(55).

Annex II Page 29

29

3. Sediments collected during the cleaning or repairing operations of ballast tanks

should be delivered in sediment reception facilities in ports and terminals, according to

Article 5 of the Ballast Water Management Convention, or be discharged beyond 200

nautical miles from the nearest land of the coastline when the ship is sailing in the Wider

Caribbean area.

4. Exemptions can be granted to a ship on a voyage between specified ports or

locations within the Wider Caribbean area, or to a ship operating exclusively between

specified ports or locations within the Wider Caribbean area. These exemptions are to be

granted according to Regulation A-4 1 of the Ballast Water Management Convention and

based on the Guidelines for risk assessment under regulation A-4 of the BWM Convention

developed by the International Maritime Organization9.

5. As per Regulation B-4 of the Ballast Water Management Convention, if the safety or

stability of the ship is threatened by a ballast water exchange operation, this operation

should not be undertaken. The reasons should be entered in the ballast water record book

and a Report should be submitted to the maritime authorities of the Port of destination.

6. Each vessel calling at a port within the Wider Caribbean area is required to have

on board a Ballast Water Management Plan complying with requirements of the Guidelines

for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast water Management Plans

developed by the International Maritime Organization10 and to keep a record of all ballast

water operations carried out.

9 Guidelines for Risk Assessment under Regulation A-4 of the BWM Convention (G7), adopted on 13

July 2007. Resolution MEPC.162(56). 10

Guidelines for Ballast Water Management and Development of Ballast Water Management Plans

(G4), adopted on 22 July 2005. Resolution MEPC.127(53).

Annex II Page 30

30

Areas in the Wider Caribbean Region meeting the requirements set out in Regulation B-4.1.2 of the Ballast Water Management Convention (at least 50 nautical miles from the nearest land in waters of at least 200 meters depth)

MAP OF THE WCR SHOWING AREAS MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF BWM CONVENTION Reg. B-4. 1.2]

***

regional strategic action plan to minimize the...

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